ask ldopa: ipod scratch removal?

August 13th, 2006


My iPod has developed quite a nasty scratch — a gouge, really — on the plastic front of the screen. Anyone have any luck with any iPod scratch removal products or techniques? As always, the cheaper the better.

I’m kind of, um, manic about this kind of thing. The zen thing to do is to consider the ipod “already scratched”, but I am not nearly that enlightened; as much as I try not to care about it, and as embarrassing as it is to admit, iPod scratches — and car door dings and the like — are the kind of things that drive me friggin’ IN-sane.

~jeff



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  • Ben

    I’ve used clear nail polish to fill in gouges and scratches on watch faces before – but it should work for any clear plastic or glass face. If you can get an even coat all over, you won’t be able to tell that you’ve done anything to it at all. Once dry, it’s pretty permanent, so you might want to consider either 1) practicing on something else first or 2) ignoring my crappy advice and taking someone else’s. I wouldn’t want to cause you to trade one manic episode for another.

    Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to enter and leave the room again, as when I walked through the door just now, it didn’t quite “feel right”.

  • Jesse

    Confession: I’m a Arstechnica fanboy. I revel in their every review. So what do they have to say for iPod scratches? Brasso

  • cauley

    Is it truly Zen to consider it “already scratched?” I’ve been doing that for years and I figured it was just me being slovenly. Huh.

    Shall I now consider the kitchen floor “never mopped” rather than just dirty?

    Please say yes.

  • Nick

    AppleSauce works well but requires that you have strong elbows as it takes a LOT of work to get the deeper scratches out. I believe it works on the same “toothpaste” principle as some of the other products out there. Oh, and it smells like apples. Duh.
    http://www.applesaucepolish.com/

  • Jeff

    For the record, I’ve tried:

    Brasso
    Crying
    Not caring

    …and sadly, “Not Caring” seems to have worked the best, as the scratch is kinda deep and not easily buffed out. “Brasso” had no particularly positive effect (due to the deepness of the scratch), but no detriment either. “Crying” just embarassed everyone around me.

  • Nick

    Ode to InvisibleShield:

    Shall I compare thee to a scratched iPod?
    Thou art more grippy and more protected.
    Rough lint and keys do shake against thee,
    And the train waits not for kinder husbandry.
    But thy eternal summer shall not fade
    Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;
    While with eternal scratches other grow’st:
    So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
    So long lives this, and thy screen of clairity.

  • http://randzig.com Randy

    Nice blog man,
    Ipod scratches are a downer no doubt.
    After you solve the problem you gotta get a case if you don’t already have one. Some might say it doesn’t look as cool with a case, but I think it doesn’t look as cool with a scratch on it.
    http://www.contourcase.com/showcase/showcasevideo/#

  • Jeff

    Oh, I had a case. The piece of metal that scratched it went right through the screen of the case and scratched the screen. Long story short: I’m lucky to be alive, and the bullet would have penetrated my heart if not for the iPod in my breast pocket.

  • Nick (a different Nick)

    Jeff, I got two words for you: belt sander.

  • balbools

    try using semen it worked for me